‘Absolutely spectacular’: Artemis II crew see first glimpse of far side of Moon
Absolutely Spectacular: Artemis II Crew’s First View of Moon’s Far Side
Nasa’s Artemis II astronauts have shared their first glimpse of the Moon’s far side during their mission. Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen are on day three of their journey aboard the Orion spacecraft, which is orbiting the lunar far side before returning to Earth. Koch remarked,
“Something about you senses that is not the Moon that I’m used to seeing.”
The crew captured an image of the Orientale basin, a feature that Nasa highlighted as the first time the entire basin was captured by human eyes.
As of 23:00 BST on Saturday, the spacecraft’s distance from Earth exceeded 180,000 miles (289,681km). This marks a significant milestone in the mission’s exploration phase.
Trump Administration and Public Reactions
During the annual “Great Marshmallow Drop,” over 15,000 treats descended from a helicopter as children rushed to collect them. Meanwhile, the former prosecutor, who had represented President Trump in a criminal hush-money case, continues to maintain a close association with the leader. The BBC’s Ione Wells interviewed protesters and attendees at the Supreme Court hearing regarding Trump’s executive order, revealing mixed opinions among the crowd.
Conservatives at the CPAC conference in Texas expressed divided views on the current economic climate. Large demonstrations against the Trump administration occurred in multiple U.S. cities, coinciding with the third “No Kings” rally. The National Mall hosted an installation titled “A Throne Fit for a King,” serving as a commentary on the White House renovations.
New York Airport Incident
The wreckage from a recent crash at New York City’s airport blocked access to one of its two runways, causing extensive delays. A yellow Labrador Retriever named Tessie was unharmed during the fall and rescue, later returning to her yard after crews addressed the sinkhole. BBC Verify detailed the moments leading up to the deadly collision with a fire truck at the airport.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were deployed to assist TSA during the partial government shutdown. Valero, a refinery operator, confirmed no injuries were reported in the incident. An Air Canada plane carrying 72 passengers and four crew members initially landed safely from Montreal before colliding with a firefighting vehicle on the runway.
Legal and Social Impacts
Recent jury findings in Los Angeles indicate that Meta and Google were intentionally designed to create addictive social media platforms, negatively affecting young users’ mental health. In her first interview since the disappearance, Savannah Guthrie recounted the moment she learned her mother was missing and reflected on whether her fame might have contributed to her mother being targeted.
The airport’s ongoing delays, attributed to TSA agents working without pay, have drawn attention to the broader implications of the government shutdown. The event also sparked discussions about the role of technology in shaping societal behavior, as highlighted by the trial outcomes and public sentiment toward the Trump administration.
